1. On 01/16/2018, Commerce published in the Federal Register its preliminary affirmative determination and alignment of its final determination in the countervailing duty investigation of Certain Uncoated Groundwood Paper from Canada from 03/25/2018 until no later than 05/22/2018, thereby aligning it with the due date for the final determination in the antidumping duty investigation of Certain Uncoated Groundwood Paper from Canada (83 FR 2133).

2. The merchandise covered by this investigation includes certain paper that has not been coated on either side and with 50 percent or more of the cellulose fiber content consisting of groundwood pulp, including groundwood pulp made from recycled paper, weighing not more than 90 grams per square meter. Groundwood pulp includes all forms of pulp produced from a mechanical pulping process, such as thermo-mechanical process (TMP), chemi-thermo mechanical process (CTMP), bleached chemi-thermo mechanical process (BCTMP) or any other mechanical pulping process. The scope includes paper shipped in any form, including but not limited to both rolls and sheets.

Certain uncoated groundwood paper includes but is not limited to standard newsprint, high bright newsprint, book publishing, directory, and printing and writing papers. The scope includes paper that is white, off-white, cream, or colored.

Specifically excluded from the scope are imports of certain uncoated groundwood paper printed with final content of printed text or graphic. Also excluded are papers that otherwise meet this definition, but which have undergone a supercalendering process (see footnote 1).

Certain uncoated groundwood paper is classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) in several subheadings, including 4801.00.0120, 4801.00.0140, 4802.61.1000, 4802.61.2000, 4802.61.3110, 4802.61.3191, 4802.61.6040, 4802.62.1000, 4802.62.2000, 4802.62.3000, 4802.62.6140, 4802.69.1000, 4802.69.2000, and 4802.69.3000. Subject merchandise may also be imported under several additional subheadings including 4805.91.5000, 4805.91.7000, and 4805.91.9000 (see footnote 2). Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive.

Footnotes

(1) Supercalendering imparts a glossy finish produced by the movement of the paper web through a supercalender which is a stack of alternating rollers of metal and cotton (or other softer material). The supercalender runs at high speed and applies pressure, heat, and friction which glazes the surface of the paper, imparting gloss to the surface and increasing the paper's smoothness and density.

(2) The following HTSUS numbers are no longer active as of January 1, 2017: 4801.00.0020, 4801.00.0040, 4802.61.3010, 4802.61.3091, and 4802.62.6040.

End of footnotes

3. This investigation has been assigned investigation number C-122-862.

4. For imports of Certain Uncoated Groundwood Paper from Canada, CBP shall suspend liquidation of such shipments entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 01/16/2018, except for the company listed in paragraph 5 below. Effective 01/16/2018, CBP shall require, for such entries, a cash deposit or the posting of a bond equal to the subsidy rates for the companies listed below:

Producer: All Others
Case number: C-122-862-000
Subsidy rate: 6.53%

Producer and/or Exporter: Catalyst Paper Corporation and three affiliates
The three affiliates are: Catalyst Paper, Catalyst Pulp Operations Limited, and Catalyst Pulp and Paper Sales Inc.
Case number: C-122-862-001
Subsidy rate: 6.09%

Producer and/or Exporter: Kruger Trois-Rivieres L.P. and six affiliates
The six affiliates are: Kruger Publication Papers Inc., Corner Brook Pulp and Paper
Limited, Kruger Energy Bromptonville LP, Kruger Holdings L.P., Kruger Holdings GP Inc., and Kruger Inc.
Case number: C-122-862-002
Subsidy rate: 9.93%

Producer and/or Exporter: Resolute FP Canada Inc. and three affiliates
The three affiliates are: Resolute FP Canada, Fibrek General Partnership (Fibrek), and Resolute Growth
Case number: C-122-862-003
Subsidy rate: 4.42%

5. The following company received a de minimis subsidy rate in the preliminary determination. No suspension of liquidation, cash deposit, or posting of bond is required at this time for the following producer:

Producer and/or Exporter: White Birch Paper Canada Company NSULC and three affiliates
The three affiliates are: Papier Masson WB (White Birch) LP, FF Soucy WB LP, and Stadacona WB LP
Case number: C-122-862-004

6. If there are any questions by the importing public regarding this message, please contact the Call Center for the Office of AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce at (202) 482-0984. CBP ports should submit their inquiries through authorized CBP channels only. (This message was generated by OII: DB.)

7. There are no restrictions on the release of this information.

Alexander Amdur